European Roller Coracias garrulus

A Flagship Species for High Nature Value Farmland conservation in the Mediterranean

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)
(photograph by Andrew Palmer)

The Roller (Coracias garrulus) is a characteristic bird species of Mediterranean farmlands. Its relatively large size and bright blue plumage makes it charismatic and popular with the public, land-owners, farmers, local communities and tourists alike. It is a widespread, but uncommon, summer visitor to the Mediterranean and southern and eastern Europe, where more than half of its global breeding range is found. However, its total European breeding population is still relatively small and is estimated to have declined by 30% since 1970 (1). It currently has "Near Threatened" status on the IUCN Red List (2).

The Roller appears to be a good bio-indicator of land-use in the wider countryside, as the species is a secondary cavity breeder in riparian forests and hedgerows (two High Nature Value Mediterranean habitats), feeding on large and often carnivorous insects (indicating a lower use of insecticides in the fields). The Roller is also known to show positive trends in response to crop mosaics. The Roller is therefore considered to be very sensitive to changing farming practices as well as the management of waterways. For example, pesticide use reduces the availability of its large insect prey species, and riparian forest and hedgerow destruction reduces nest-site availability and foraging capacity.

The objectives of this program are to

  1. Halt and reverse the decline of Roller populations throughout this region;
  2. Explore the potential for using the Roller as an indicator of high nature value farmland;
  3. Use Roller conservation to stimulate the engagement of key stakeholders and local communities in activities that promote economically and ecologically sustainable land management;
  4. Use the Roller to illustrate the efficacy of existing land-use policies and rural development measures and to elaborate and promote positive adjustment to these policies.

Since 2001, A Rocha France has run an integrated conservation program including research, education and practical conservation in the Vallée des Baux de Provence.

2001

2002

2003

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2007

Research

Long-term studies

Census of the breeding population of the Vallée des Baux

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Breeding success and phenology (nest boxes)

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Habitat mapping

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Monitoring methodology tests

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Nest site selection

Natural sites

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Experimental colony

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Diet

Analyses of nest box material

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Photographic trap

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Foraging habitat selection

Habitats used

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Orphoptera transect

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Hunting technique

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Nest site and nestling fidelity

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Conservation

Nest boxes

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Perches

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Field margins

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White Poplars plantation

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Education

Outings

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Conferences

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Leaflet

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Nest box information

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Administration of the Roller Working Group

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DVD

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(1) BirdLife International (2004) Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status, Cambridge, UK (BirdLife Conservation Series No 12), page 173

(2) http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/47665/summ

Conferences :

  • TRON F. 2006. The European Roller as a flagship species for a local community-based approach on Mediterranean farmland conservation. 1st ECCB, Eger – Hongrie.
  • TRON F., 2007a. Le Rollier d’Europe : Recherche et conservation dans la vallée des Baux de Provence et Vers un réseau national. Assemblée générale de l’ONEM. Beaucaire.
  • TRON F., LEMPHERS N. ET POOLE T., 2007. Programme Rollier en Vallée des Baux. 1° Rencontres nationales du Groupe de travail Rollier. Saint-Martin de Crau.
  • TRON F., 2007b. Bilan Rollier dans la Vallée des Baux de Provence. 2° Rencontres nationales du Groupe de travail Rollier. Saint-Chaptes.
  • TRON F. ET ZENASNI A., 2007. Vers où roule le Rollier. 31° CFO. Paris.

Publications and reports :

  • BUTLER, S., 2001. Nest-site selection of the European Roller (Coracias garrulus) in the Vallée des Baux de Provence. MSc report. Lire
  • TIDMARSH, R. 2004. Nest box contents as an indicator of nestling diet in the European Roller (Coracias garrulus). Internal report A Rocha France. Lire
  • GRAY T., 2004. A contribution to the Roller study in the Valley des Baux : Recommendations for Roller monitoring, Observations on reproductive biology, phenology and feeding behaviour. Internal report A Rocha France. Lire
  • TIDMARSH R. & DI CORRADO C. 2004. Hunting success as a function of habitat and perch type in the European Roller (Coracias garrulus) population of the Valley des Baux. Internal report A Rocha France. Lire
  • FAVA-VERDE A., 2004. Proposition for a long-term monitoring of the European Roller (Coracias garrulus) in the vallée des Baux. UCL - MSc Project. Lire
  • TRON F., 2004. Le Rollier d’Europe (Coracias garrulus) dans la vallée des Baux en 2003 : Statut et données phénologiques. Rapport interne. 6p. Lire
  • TRON F., 2005A. The European Roller in the Vallée des Baux, Provence. A Rocha Conservation Science Review 1. pp4-5. Lire Suite
  • TRON F., 2004. Recensement et suivi à long terme du Rollier d’Europe dans la Vallée des baux de Provence. Internal Report A Rocha France. Lire
  • MILHAU, A., 2006. Le Rollier est-il un bon indicateur biologique des plaines agricoles méditerranéenes ? Rapport de 2A de l’ENITA de Bordeaux.
  • A ROCHA INTERNATIONAL, 2007. The European Roller : a Flagship Species for High Nature Value Farmland conservation in the Mediterranean; CONCEPT PAPER - FINAL. Lire
  • POOLE T., 2007. An Analysis of Digital Camera Images as a Mark of European Roller Feeding Activity. Lire
  • POOLE T., 2007. An Assessment of the breeding Population of the European roller, Coracias garrulus, in the Vallée des Baux. Internal Report A Rocha France. Lire
  • TRON F., 2007. Roller studies in the Vallée des Baux. A Rocha Conservation Science Review 2. p6. Lire
  • TRON F., ZENASNI A., BOUSQUET P., CRAMM P., BESNARD A., (in press). Réévaluation du statut du Rollier d’Europe (Coracias garrulus) en France. Ornithos.
  • POOLE T. ET TRON F., In prep a. Nest-site selection by the European Roller (Coracias garrulus) in the Vallée des Baux de Provence, France.
  • POOLE T. ET TRON F., In prep b. Foraging habitats selection by the European Roller (Coracias garrulus) in the Vallée des Baux de Provence, France. Lire
  • TRON F., LEMPHERS N., EVANS D., (in prep). Monitoring and census methodologies on the European Roller (Coracias garrulus).
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